The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-11-12
THE EVENING EXERCISES.

words, took up the program and The
speaking began.
ADDRESS BY MR.. JOY.
The first speaker of the evening
from the first, all along, in all the
particulars, up to the present hour, con.
versant in detail of all the House has
attempted and all it has done, and a
maker of its history-was Mr.. JOHN D.
w. JOY.
The able and exhaustive historical
address of DR.. Eddy, leaves, he said,
little to be said in the historical line.
But there are two names that are wor-
thy of special mention, sas among the
earliest and most faithful workers in
establishing the Publishing House.
Rev. John S. Barry and Deacon Moses
Mellen. To these men and others that
could be named, we owe much, for the
untiring zeal and fidelity they ever
manifested in the interests of the
House. In those days the attempt to
raise $4,000 for publication purposes,
only about one-half of which was Sc
cured, was a great undertaking but
even then, Hon. Horace Greeley de-
elaTed that it ought to reach at least
$50, ,000 Many of you will remember
that at Gloucester in 1870, Mr.. Greeley
earnestly advocated putting the entire
Murray Fund into publishing house :;
and although his suggestion was not
adopted, he held firmly to his faith that
in no other way could so much effective
mission work be done as by perma-
nent fund of $200,0 900 to aid in the pub
lication of our literature. The large
experience of Mr.. Greeley in that line
of effort, enabled him to speak with a
large measure of authority on that sub
ject and who to-day will question the
soundness of his judgment on this all
important matter?
Those who were not on the stage of
active life twenty-five years ago, know
nothing of the obstacles that stood in
the way of founding this Publishing
House. We had much direct opposi-
tiOn to overcome, as well as the task of
educating the people up to the need of
such an institution among US. During
the first three years of its existence, the
amount of business done by the House
amounted to an average Of about $18,-
600 yearly the average for the last
three years reached theB bum of $71 900.
we began in segzs - vpoverty, but
have prospered and our prosperity
has been of the solid kind. During the
years many old opponents have entered
the ranks, and there is now no opposi-
tion from any source. We have now,
inclusive of legacies available in short
time, 100000 worth of property; and
the historian of this institution twenty
five years hence, will report an average
annual business of 500 900; and before
half that time has elapsed, the house
will probably have in its possession at
least 100000 worth of property. This
is certainly an encouraging outlook,
and should prompt all to rejoice in
what has been, and in the bright pros
pect of what is yet to be.
ADDRESS BY REV. MR.. RUGG.
The speaker next introduced was the
REV. II. W. RUGG, for years an efficient
worker on the Board of Directors. He
said
l reckon it among my fortunate expe-
riences that l was officially connected
for several years with the Universalist
Publishing House, and privileged to
have some small part in the conduct of
its affairs. Because of that relation !
can all the more enjoy the ample hOspi-
talities which accord with the spirit of
the hour. / am glad that my name is
associated with the names of those earn
est workers who watched over this i'm
portant undertaking in the day of small
things. BY alliance with worthy insti-
tutions, an Identification with enter
prises that do good work and succeed,
we may hope to be remembered al
though our individual service counted
for but little in the grand result.
am glad tonight to think of some
movements and new departures in the
early history of the House which claim
ed my active interest. The purchase
of the Sunday School Helper was an OBJ
ject very near to my heart, and l did
what l could to bring about the trans
fer of that publication from New York
to Boston. Buying the Helper was a
grand investment for the House; it
was an excellent work done in the in
terests of our Sunday-schools. l con-
gratulate myself also that was men,
Der of the Board of Directors when the
selection was made of editors and
agents who have rendered long and ac-
ceptable services to our church. Some
men do their best work by enlisting
others in enterprises, by selecting the
right agents for any desired work. When
Andrew brought Peter to the Master he
rendered no small service, for he was
the means of introducing among the
early advocates of Christianity that
earnest warm-hearted disciple, who
sought most effectually for the truth.
l claim your grateful thought, friends,